Applying for Funding

For any research project, it is important to consider what resources you will need, how much this is going to cost and where the money will come from.  Here is some advice on how best to go about applying for funding.

UK Research and Innovation also have some great advice and resources available: 

  1. Give Yourself Time

You always need more time than you think to get these things right.  It takes time to write, to consult and discuss with peers and supervisors, costing each component, researching what grants are available and what will be covered by them.  So start early.  


2. Research your funding source(s)

There are lots of grants and fellowships around.  Below are some sources and places to start looking in that early period.  It is important also to think about what organisations are best suited for your project- do their priorities align with yours?  Will they support you completing your research?  After this you can look into the nitty gritty of what funding is available for what resources.  

If you do apply for a fellowship or grant via a form, always take time to read the guidance documents.  This is key to avoid getting rejected at the early stages and avoid all the disappointment and extra work that comes with this!!

There are a number of large research grants available from places like MRC, Welcome Trust etc.  There are funded surgery and orthopaedic research fellowships from AO, BOA, NJR, and the Royal Colleges.  It is also worth looking at research charities such as VersusArthritis and Orthopaedic Research UK.

3. Discuss with those you trust

Especially if you have never submitted an application before or done anything like this!  Discuss and compare with peers, seniors, supervisors- especially those who do it all the time or, even better, those who review proposals all the time.  Their opinions will help.

4. Be clear, concise, and write in plain English

The committees that review these applications are not just interested in what research you are planning.  They are more interested, at this stage, with how you are going to do it.  Having said that- it is important that you communicate why you think your research is important early on, and how it can be translated into an action plan or contribute to current understanding.

Think about the life cycle of the project.  What are your methods going to be and what will you need to set the project up, carry out the research, analyse the data etc.  Who else will you need to be involved? (Think lab techs or clinical administrative staff.) What raw materials, forms, patient information or hardware/computer software will you need?

Finally, it sounds simple, but keep within the specified word count.  Make use of paragraphs and bullet points if appropriate to make it easy for the reader to find important information.

5. Get your proposal reviewed

As per point 3- review your application with people you trust and get their comments and opinions.  Re-draft and re-draft.  It is also worth double and triple checking the guidelines and specification to make sure you have it in the correct layout with all the information requested.  Check punctuation, presentation and grammar- these things do matter.